The following table, though it does not cover the full depth of innovation in Latin America, provides an overview of what happens in some countries in the region. The table reveals a shortage of instruments and programmes to support innovation in SMEs, especially those tailored specifically for this type of company. These factors should be especially promoted to ensure that modernisation reaches the entire production sector in the region.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Country Institution Managed by Type of institution   Purpose of the SME innovation support programme or fund Support for innovation Financing method
        Supply Demand Transfer / Linkages / Co-operation     
        Human resources Innovation Equipment  Improvement to business productivity/competitiveness Technology transfer R&D Transfer / Linkages / Co-operation     
Argentina National Science and Technology Promotion Agency Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation (MINCyT) Agency to support science, technology and innovation       Argentinian Technology Fund (FONTAR), Argentinian Sector Fund (FONARSEC)       Direct Loans, tax incentives and subsidies
National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), through the Technology Transfer Office MINCyT Agency to support science, technology and innovation Grants, researchers in companies         Researchers in companies Consultancy, agreements, high-technology services Direct and indirect Loans and subsidies
National Agricultural Technology Institute (INTA) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Agency to support innovation in farming and livestock         Technology transfer agreements R&D agreements Technology-transfer agreements through specialist technical support agreements Direct Loans and subsidies
National Industrial Technology Institute (INTI) Ministry of Industry Government ministry Human-resource training           Technical services/support  Indirect Subsidies
Secretariat of Small and Medium Enterprises and Regional Development (SEPYME) Ministry of Industry Agency to support SMEs SME experts     Programme for Access to Credit and Competitiveness (PACC) for companies, National Fund for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (FONAPyME)       Direct and indirect Loans and subsidies
Brazil* Studies and Projects Funding Agency (FINEP) Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) Support agency        Innova Brasil   Innova Brasil Innova Brazil Direct Loans and subsidies
Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)   National development bank     BNDES cards         Indirect Loans
Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation (CTI) Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI) Government ministry             Brazilian Technology System (SIBRATEC), Pro Innova Direct and indirect Loans and subsidies
Chile Production Development Corporation (CORFO) Ministry of Economy Agency to support production Innovation management  High-tech business innovation programme   InnovaChile Technological dissemination programme   Innovation hubs, transitory basal funding programme for technology consortia Direct and indirect Loans, tax incentives and subsidies
National Research, Science and Technology Commission (CONICYT) Ministry of Education Agency to support science, technology and innovation       Science and Technology Development Fund (FONDEF)       Direct Subsidies
Foundation for Agricultural Innovation (FIA) Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries Agency to support innovation in the food and forestry industries   National innovation systems         Consultancies Direct and indirect Loans and subsidies
Innova Bío Bío       Business innovation Technological equipment for SMEs    Technology transfer centres   Consultancies and technology missions Direct and indirect Loans and subsidies
Colombia Modernisation and Innovation Fund for MSMEs (FOMIPYME) Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism Government ministry Innova Prize INNpulsa MiPyme***   INNpulsa MiPyme***     Innova Prize Direct and indirect Subsidies
Mexico* National Council on Science and Technology (CONACYT) Ministry of Education Agency to support science, technology and innovation   INNOVAPYME**   INNOVAPYME**, INNOVATEC**, Technology Innovation Fund     INNOVAPYME, PROINNOVA**, AERIS Direct Subsidies
Uruguay National Research and Innovation Agency (ANII) Ministerial Bureau of Innovation (GMI) Agency to support innovation Qualified human resources for companies Wide-coverage innovation projects, high-impact innovation projects, projects to support innovative potential prototypes   Certification projects and new export markets     Projects to stimulate technology demand, in-house experts, supplier-development programme Direct Subsidies
National Bureau for Crafts and SMEs (DINAPYME) Ministry of Industry, Energy and Mining (MIEM) Agency to support SMEs Human-resource training             Indirect Subsidies